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Youth Programme
Research in Agriculture and Innovation Systems

ATPS Biotechnology in Africa Program - Knowledge Generation, Knowledge Exchange and Training for Improved Policymaking

 

Program Duration:        2002 - 2004
Program Director
& Cooordinator:            Dr. Osita Ogbu, Executive Director, ATPS
Program Assistant:       Mr. Maurice Bolo, Snr. Research Officer, ATPS
Email Contacts:            executivedirector@atpsnet.org  or mbolo@atpsnet.org
 
ATPS carried out a program on Biotechnology in Africa: Knowledge generation, knowledge exchange and training for improved policymaking.  The two-year program on biotechnology brought together a wide range of stakeholders – including from government, intergovernmental organizations, civil society groups, academia, industry and the media – from across Africa to shape biotechnology policies in Africa. The program deliberated on the formulation of coherent, informed and inclusive policies on biotechnology as it relates to trade, health and intellectual property protection (IPRs) at the national and regional levels. It was observed that many African countries are still in the process of enacting their biotechnology and biosafety laws and formulating national strategies and policies. Conclusions and recommendations drawn from the various activities conducted within the program are briefly highlighted below:
  • Recommendations to African governments on biotechnology policymaking:  African governments should be more proactive in analysing and identifying their short, medium and long term needs, policy gaps and priorities. These priorities should ideally be developed with the participation of relevant actors in the public and the private sectors.
  • Recommendations to national and regional actors: Participants recommended various actions on the relevant policy instruments both the national and regional levels:
At the national level, countries could focus on:
  1. mechanisms for labelling to facilitate consumer choice (including enforcement)an enabling policy environment for biotech development;
  2. inter-institutional / ministerial collaboration;
  3. raising public awareness;
  4. regulatory, human resources, institutional and infrastructure development;
  5. fostering partnerships (public-private, private-private);
  6. providing sufficient funding for research and access to the technology.
At the regional level, partnerships, such as NEPAD, and regional economic agreements should be considered as a means to achieving developmental goals. Commercial considerations should be balanced by social, environmental and cultural objectives.
  • Recommendations geared towards ensuring public participation and awareness:  it emerged that successful implementation of domestic, regional and international policies and regulations can only be achieved through integration, coordination and cooperation among all stakeholders. This should involve raising awareness of the risks and benefits of biotechnology and promoting official national multi-stakeholder consultation processes that include networks of farmers associations and civil society groups.
  • Recommendations on financial resources and funding for biotechnology: One of the main constraints affecting the implementation of effective biotechnology regulations and the development of biotechnology has been inadequate funding. Governments should review and adapt laws and commercial regulations to enhance funding for biotechnology.
  • Recommendations on technical assistance and capacity building: Governments, regional actors and international institutions should strive to build capacity to ensure adequate human and institutional capacities for biotechnology development and mainstream biotechnology policy.
The programme's initial activities included national and regional dialogues and knowledge exchange sessions in different African countries. There have also been policy interventions to support discussions of the on-going efforts in Africa to craft biotechnology policies, biosafety laws and other regulatory instruments.

The program was coordinated by Dr. Osita Ogbu, former Executive Director, ATPS and Mr. Maurice Ochieng Bolo, Senior Research Officer, ATPS.

 

Programme Activities